Living locally: Annapolis open its homes to Commissioning Week visitors

Annapolis resident Christine Corbin talks about using AirBnB to rent out rooms for Navy Commissioning Week, along with AirBnB guest Valerie Arnold, of St. Petersburg FL, talking about her experiences and reasons for using AirBnB.

Annapolis resident Christine Corbin talks about using AirBnB to rent out rooms for Navy Commissioning Week, along with AirBnB guest Valerie Arnold, of St. Petersburg FL, talking about her experiences and reasons for using AirBnB.

As Naval Academy midshipmen prepare for graduation Friday, Annapolis home owners have been preparing their houses for rent.

But just for the week.

The "share economy" has made it easier for Annapolis residents to put up short-term rental advertisements on websites like Airbnb, which connect homeowners to people looking for a place to stay.

As Commissioning Week gets underway, homeowners have listed their homes with ads highlighting the walk-ability of their home in relation to the academy. And prices have been on a big range. Homes and rooms advertised exclusively for the Commissioning Week ranged from $100 to $1,000 a night, some requiring more than one night of stay.

By Matthew Cole / Capital Gazette

AirBNB guest Valerie Arnold, of St. Petersburg FL, carries her belongings up the stairs to her room, at Christine Corbin's Annapolis home on Friday morning.

AirBNB guest Valerie Arnold, of St. Petersburg FL, carries her belongings up the stairs to her room, at Christine Corbin's Annapolis home on Friday morning. (By Matthew Cole / Capital Gazette)

Annapolis resident Christine Corbin posted an ad for a private room in her house on Dean Street.

"Very pretty Historic house in Annapolis two blocks to State Circle and a 10-minute walk to the Naval Academy," Corbin wrote on the advertisement.

"I want them to feel like they have access to the entire house," Corbin said after greeting a guest on Friday. "I'm a social creature."

Commissioning Week events will bring thousands of friends and families of the graduates, plebes and other members of the academy to Annapolis.

Valerie Arnold is staying with Corbin to visit her daughter, who will be a senior in the academy next year. Arnold, of St. Petersburg, Florida, rents out her home when she leaves on trips and loves doing short-term rentals in other people's homes.

"It gives me an idea on the different areas and different neighborhoods," Arnold said.

When friends and families aren't actively at an event, they are shopping downtown, visiting other parts of the city and spending money, city officials say.

The growth of the Airbnb and other "share-economy" trends like Uber and Lyft have made it easier for people to spend their money on less traditional travel expenses like hotels and taxis.

But there have been consequences: People might choose to stay less often at local hotels or bed and breakfasts or don't call local cab companies.

The city has had laws to allow for short-term rentals during Commissioning Week and during the week-long boat shows. Airbnb and other services have made offering short-term rentals easier throughout the year, which has led some elected officials to wonder whether more regulation is needed.

Annapolis doesn't require short-term rentals to be licensed or certified like long-term rentals, and the city doesn't collect a portion of the hotel tax when someone stays at a home, said Elly Tierney, who owns the Chez Amis Bed and Breakfast. Most rental properties are inspected at $100 a room by the city.

"Why do you think you need to avoid getting inspected?" said Tierney, a Ward 1 Democratic candidate for City Council.

Alderman Joe Budge, D-Ward 1, said the issue predates Airbnb and other companies. The question is managing the difference between renting out investment properties or renting out a room in someone's home.

"The issue of renting rooms in an owner-occupied building is you are going to be making sure everything works and guests behave," Budge said. "If you are doing short-term rentals on an investment property, and you are not living there, that is detrimental to the neighborhood."

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Rodney Barnes grew up in Annapolis loving comic books. He has become an award-winning writer/producer and is currently working on a Marvel comic called Falcon. He spoke to children at the Boys and Girls Club of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Wednesday evening.

Rodney Barnes grew up in Annapolis loving comic books. He has become an award-winning writer/producer and is currently working on a Marvel comic called Falcon. He spoke to children at the Boys and Girls Club of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Wednesday evening.

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Rodney Barnes grew up in Annapolis loving comic books. He has become an award-winning writer/producer and is currently working on a Marvel comic called Falcon. He spoke to children at the Boys and Girls Club of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Wednesday evening.

Rodney Barnes grew up in Annapolis loving comic books. He has become an award-winning writer/producer and is currently working on a Marvel comic called Falcon. He spoke to children at the Boys and Girls Club of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Wednesday evening.

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